[dots connected by Lynn C. Rees]
Sigh
What did Lucius Aemilius Paullus know and when did he know it?
The Aemilii Paulii called him “Boy“:
Boy
[Boy]…was one of the 1,000 Achaean nobles who were transported to Rome as hostages in 167 BC, and was detained there for 17 years. In Rome, by virtue of his high culture, [Boy] was admitted to the most distinguished houses, in particular to that of Aemilius Paullus, the conqueror in the Third Macedonian War, who entrusted [Boy] with the education of his sons, Fabius and Scipio Aemilianus (who had been adopted by the eldest son of Scipio Africanus). As the former tutor of Scipio Aemilianus, [Boy] remained on cordial terms with his former pupil and remained a counselor to him when he defeated the Carthaginians in the Third Punic War…When the Achaean hostages were released in 150 BC, [Boy] was granted leave to return home, but the next year he went on campaign with Scipio Aemilianus to Africa, and was present at the capture of Carthage, which he later described.
Well before Blair
Follow the money.
Trailing glory
Consider the primary sources of the primary source’s considerations.
- Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus: Boy’s
captoremployer. He was Lucius Aemilius Paullus‘ son. - Aemillia Tertia: Wife of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (he beat Hannibal Barca). Mother of fabled paragoness of virtue Cornelia Scipionis Africana. Grandmother of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Gaius Sempronius Gracchus. She was Lucius Aemilius Paullus‘ daughter.
- Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus Minor: Boy’s
minderstudent as a lad. Prolific collector of agnomina based on wrecked cities. Adopted grandson of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (Major to his Minor). Biologically, Paullus Macedonicus’ son. Pa Macedonicus showed Skip where he kept Boy’s leash before he died. He was Lucius Aemilius Paullus‘ grandson. - Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus: another of Boy’s
minderspupils as a lad. Adopted into the family of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator the Dictator. Biologically, Paullus Macedonicus’ oldest son. He had the spare key to where Boy’s leash was kept.
Do Disturb
Then there was Gaius Laelius.
Gaius Laelius (left?) with Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major
Gaius Laelius (left?) with Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major
Gaius Laelius was the Nick Carraway of the Second Punic War: somehow everywhere yet somehow nowhere. Consider Wikipedia’s Laelian words: “obscure”, “obscurity”, ”suggests”, “apparently”, “may have”, “largely unknown”, “not clear”. His epitaph might as well have been “Laelius appears to have died some years after 160 BC, but his year of death is mentioned by neither Livy nor Polybius.” Laelius often seems digitally inserted into the Second Punic War. You find him (maybe) at Ticinus, New New City, Ilipia, Zama. Laelius’ life was like a box of chocolates: you might get a tasty treat or wake up to your favorite thoroughbred’s severed head on the bed sheets.
Father’s day is just around the corner
The story we have of the Second Punic War is not Boy’s. While, to a certain extent, it might be young Scipio’s or middling Fabius Maximus’, the history that rolled down through Boy and Boy groupies like Titus Livius Patavinus or Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus is Gaius Laelius’ history.
He gave Boy an offer he couldn’t refuse. Grey Narrator as Grey Eminence.
Be like Boy
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit. However, even if you’re Boy bringing gifts, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you if the hand bites back harder. And rude victors bite even as they beware.
Boy played his part in Laelius’ scheme. And what was this scheme?
Follow the money.
Photo Booth
Laelius was Scipio’s Horatio. Much like Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was for Gaius Julius Caesar, his rise was due to his role as Scipio’s shadow. A rising Scipio lifts all Laelii.
Laelius was at the bridge between Scipio’s current controversy and future immortality. He had to hold it against Marcus Porcius Catos at the gates who’d casually destroy Scipio’s reputation after talking about ways to improve Roman trash collection, animal control, or even destroying those wascally Phoenicians.
Marcus Porcius Cato Major the Censor
Lealius had to protect Scipio.
And that’s why the NSA records (meta)data on all Americans.
